Stoker



C. L. MYERS Jan. 6, 1942.

S TOKER Filed Dec. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 6, 1942. c, L, MYERS2,269,283

' STQKEB Filed Dec. 30,- 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 gig/18 Jan. 6, 1942. II c. MYERS 2,269,283:

STOKER Filed Dec. 30, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 6, 1942.-

c. MYERS STOKER Filed Dad. 30, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Iaffanzeg/ C. L. MYERS STOKER Filed Dec. 30, 1938 Jan. 6, 1942.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 can Engineering Qompany, Philadelphia, Pa, a

corporation'of Pennsylvania Application December 30, 193'8,'SrialNo.248,442 1 16 Claims. (01. 110-465) This invention relates to furnacestokers, and more particularly to ash feeding means associated with suchdevices. I

One object of the present invention is to provide in a stoker of thestated character, generally improved-means for agitating the-fuel and''feeding the ashes from th furnace.

A more specificobject is to provide a novel ash feeding device ofsectional segmental roll construction, which, when in its normalposition,

' oscillates to feed the ashes through a discharge opening provided atthe rear of the furnace, and when in another position permits theaccumulated ash normally supported thereon to avalanche through saidopening.

A further object is to provide an ash feeding device of the statedcharacter which is simple in construction, and highly efiicient inoperation.

Other and further objects will become ap-,

parent as the description of' the invention progresses.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the retortsof an underfeed stoker showing the improved ash feeding deviceassociated therewith, and the mechanism for operating the same.

Fig. 2 is a' plan View of a portion of the ash feeding device and of themechanism for operating the same.

wall of the furnace. The fuel gravitating in I hoppers] enters cylinders6' from which it is fed to the retorts 2 by means of rams 1, operated inthe present instance by fluid motors 8. The'bottom of each retort hasprovided therein a series of'pu'shers 9 which are also operated by the Ifluid motor means "8 through a link and lever mechanism indicatedgenerally at [0. The lower endof each retort has provided therein a deadplate II from which the fuel is moved by the pushers 9 to overfeedsection 12, which in turn feeds the fuel to the ash discharging deviceI3. The ash discharging device I 3, as will appear morefullyhereinafter, feeds the consumed fuel through a discharge openingI4, into a pit [5, from which it may be removed from time to time by anysuitable means. I

Each tuyere row 3 has provided thereon one or more longitudinallyextending fluid conducting tubes I5. These tubes are bent upwardly nearthe upper end of the stoker, as shown at l6, and

the upper portions thereof lie in abutting relation with the innersurfaceof the front wall 5 of the furnace. The upper ends of tubes l5may 'terminate in one of the steam drums (not shown) of a boiler l1.Thetubes|5 extend rear- Fig. 3 is'asectional elevational-view showingthe ash feeding device in normal position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the ash feeding device in dumpingposition.

Fig. 5 is a side view partly in section, and with parts removed toshowthe structure of the operating means for the ash discharge device.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig.5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1-1 of Fig.5.

Fig. 8 is aside elevational- View taken exteriorly of one of the sidewalls of the furnace, showing an alternativeform of operating mechanismfor the-ash discharge device, portions of the wall being-broken away tomore clearly illustrate certain of the operating parts. e

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along-line 9a' of Fig.8'.

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantiallyalong line 10-40 of Fig. 8, andshowing the clutch control mechanism associated with the operating meansfor the ash feeding device; and q Fig. 11 is an end view of themechanism shown in Fig. 10. I

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates generally aninclined grate underfee stoker, comprising alternately disposed rtorts"2 and tuyre rows 3. Fuel is'supplied to the'stoker from hoppers 4disposed exteriorly of the front wardly beyond'the ends of the tuyrerows 3 and form a portion of the overfeed section [2, and are then bentdownwardly, as shown at l8, and ter- I' nina te 'at their lower ends ina header. l9. Mounted in cooling relation with each dead plate II areone or more fluid conducting tubes 20. These tubes extend rearwardlyfrom a header 2| mounted in any suitable manner beneath the stoker, andare then bent downwardly in substantially parallel relation with thetubes l5, and

. also form a portion of the overfeed section l2.. The

lower ends of tubes 20 also terminate in header I9. Headers l9 and 2 Iare connected to the boiler by any suitable downcomer and riserconnections 22 and" 23 respectively.

Disposed between the tubes l5 and 20 are re,- ciprocating andoscillating elements 24 and 25 respectively, which are operativelyconnected to an operating rod 26, which in turn is connected by alinkand lever mechanism 21 to the link and lever mechanism l0, andconsequently'elements 24, and 25' are also actuated by the fluid motors8.

Overfeed section I2, including the feeding elernents 24 and 25, issimilar in construction to that/shown in thepending applicationof J. S.Bennett, Ser. No. 142,389, filed May 13, 1937, and

to which reference may be had for a full disclosure thereof.

Sufiice it to say herein, that upon operation of the fluid motors 8elements 24 and 25 are actuated to agitate and feed the fuel tothe ashdischarging device l3.

-;F'luid motors 8 are actuated in the present instance by means of apump28 having a pressure reversing control mechanism 29' associated'there 36of shaft 31.

with. Fluid from pump 28 is conducted to and from motors 8 by means ofconduits 30. The fluid system including the motors 8 for operating theram 1, the pump 28, and the control mechanism 29, is similar inconstruction and operation to that shown in the pending application ofHoward F. Lawrence, Ser. No. 132,689, filed March 7 I 24, 1937, andaccordingly a detailed description thereof is unnecessary herein. Inoperation, upon movement of the rams I in the feeding or returndirection, a pressure is built up in the system which, upon reaching apredetermined intensity, causes the control mechanism 29 to effect areversal of the discharge of the pump 28, and consequently a reversal inthe operation of the rams 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, lower drum 3| of boiler I1 is spaced rearwardly fromthe lower end of stoker I, and one bank of tubes 32 thereof extendforwardly, as shown at 33, and then upwardly, as shown at 34, and formthe rear or bridge wall of the furnace. The curved portions of tubes 32are spaced from the ash discharge device 13, thereby forming thedischarge opening I4 therebetween.

The ash discharge device l3 comprises a series of axially aligned,rockable members 35 mounted upon the square portions 36 of a shaft 31.Each member 35 comprises an upper, substantially arcuate fuel supportingportion 36, end walls 39, and a forwardly disposed wall 40, having arectangular opening 4| provided therein. The lower ends of the arcuatefuel supporting portion 38 and wall 40 are connected by a pair ofspaced, supporting members 43. Each supporting member has providedintermediate the ends thereof an open, substantially rectangular recess44 for receiving the square portions 36 of shaft 31. A .closing plate 45extends across the bottom of each member 35, and is secured {to mem-.bers 43 in any suitable manner, as by bolts 46. The upper surface ofeach fuel supporting portion 38 has provided thereon a series of teeth41 for feeding the ash through opening 14.

To prevent siftings from passing between ash discharge device l3 and thelower vertical portions of tubes l5 and 20, a series of supportingmembers 48 are provided. These members are secured in any suitablemanner to the tubes l5 and 20, and each comprises an upper, rearwardlyprojecting portion 49, and a rearwardly disposed arcuate portion 50concentric with the forwardly disposed portion 5| of fuel supportingportion 38. To protect the tubes 32, comprising the rear wall of thefurnace, and also the upper wall of opening l4, from the action of thefuel and ash, protective blocks 5| are provided. Also provided on tubes32, directly above the ash discharge device I3, are a series of abutmentblocks 52 which act as bearing surfaces to enable the ash dischargedevice to break up clinker formations before the ash discharges throughthe opening I4.

From the foregoing description it is seen that to assemble the members35 upon shaft 31, the said shaft is first rotated until the forwardlydisposed wall of each member 35 clears the rearwardly disposed end ofmembers 48. The members 35 are then seated upon the square portions Theplates 45 are then secured in position by bolts 46.

The shaft 31, and consequently the ash discharge device [3, is rockedback and forth by means of a fluid motor 52, bolted or otherwise securedto the outside surface of one of the side walls 53 of the furnace. Fluidmotor 52 com.-

prises a cylinder 54 having a piston 55 operating therein. The oppositeends of cylinder 54 are connected to pump 28 by means of a pair of pipes56 and 51. The piston rod 58 of piston 55 extends through an end wall 59of cylinder 54, and the outer end thereof is rigidly secured to one endof a rack 60. To prevent leakage of fluid past the piston rod 58 anysuitable packing gland 6| is provided.

Rack 60 operates in a longitudinally extending guideway 62 provided atthe upper end of a supporting bracket 63. Guideway 62, as will beobserved upon reference more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, comprises apair of channel members 64 and 65 secured in any suitable manner to theside walls 66, 66 of bracket 63. The lower channel member 65 is providedwith a slot 61 intermediate the ends thereof through which extends asegmental gear 68 secured to the outer end of shaft 31. Segmental gear68, as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, meshes with rack 60,and consequently any movement imparted to the latter by fluid motor 52is imparted to segmental gear 68, and to shaft 31. The extent ofmovement of rack 60 is controlled by certain abutment means which willnow be described in detail.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and '7, channel members 64 and 65are provided with slots 69 and Ill, respectively, near one end thereof,and pairs of similar slots 12 and 13, respectively, near the other endthereof, for receiving U-shaped washers H. To predetermine itheextent ofmovement of rack member 60 to the right, the desired number of washers Hare inserted through the slots 69 and 10. Now, upon engagement of theright hand end 14 of rack 60 with the washers H so positioned furthermovement of the rack to the right is prevented. To predetermine themovement of the rack 60 to the left, the proper number of washers H areinserted in slots 12 and 13, thereby providing a fixed abutment betweenthe said washers and the right hand ends of slots 12 and 13. Thus, whenthe left hand end 15 of rack 60 engages the washers so placed, furthermovement thereof is prevented. In this manner the extent of movement ofrack 60 either. to the right or to the left, may be readily changed atwill to vary the effectiveness of ash discharging device l3. To enablethe operator to observe the rocking movement of ash discharging device[3, a pointer 16 is secured to the outer end of shaft 31. This pointerextends through an opening provided in the outer wall 66 of bracket 63,and if desired the said wall may have a gauge provided thereon.

The operation of fluid motor 52' is controlled by the pressure reversingcontrol mechanism 29 associated with pump 28. In operation when piston55 of motor 52 reaches the limit of its travel in either direction,depending upon the positioning of the washers H, as just described, apressure builds up in the system. This pressureis communicated tocontrol mechanism 29, which in turn operates on pump 28 to reverse thedischarge thereof. Piston 55 will now be operated by pump 28 in thereverse direction until its. movement is again stopped, at which timethe pressure again builds up in the system, causing a reversal in thedischarge of the pump, and consequently causing the piston 55 to againreverse its direction of travel. By rocking the ash discharging device[3 in this manner, the ash accumulating thereon is fed through dischargeopening l4. Now should it be desired to dump I05 has secured thereto acollar I09.

the ashes from the furnace, the ash discharge device I3 is moved to theposition shownin Fig. 4. This-is accomplished by removing all of thewashers II from the slots 59 and I0, thereby enabling further travel ofrack Bil-to the right. By this action the ash discharge device is swungfrom the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, therebyproviding a greater opening between abutment member 52' and the ashdischarge device I3. The ashes now slide over the bottom plates 45 ofeach of the members 35. -To prevent damage to the fuel supportingportion 38 of each of the members 35 wear plates I6 may be provided.

, Shaft 37 may be mounted in any suitable bearings, provided in the sidewalls 53, and also in intermediate bearings provided in verticalbrackets 11 disposed between the sections 35 of the ash discharge deviceI3. The numbers of such intermediate bearings provided depends upon thewidth of the furnace.

Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive illustrate a mechanical mechanism for operatingthe ash discharge device I3 and will now be described in detail.

In this construction the stoker I is similar in construction to thestoker I shown in Fig. 1, and also comprises a series of alternatelydisposed retorts 2 and tuyre rows 3 Fuel is fed to the stoker by aseries of rams I whichare operatively connected to the crank shaft 80 byany suitable link and lever mechanism 82, the said crank shaft beingoperated by any suitable power mechanism indicated at 8 I Fuel isunderfed along the retorts 2 by a series of pushers 9 to the overfeedsection I 2 which in turn feeds the fuel to the 5 ash discharge deviceI3. The pushers 9 and the moving elements of the overfeed section I2 arealso actuated by the power mechanism 8| through any suitable link andlever mechanism 1 indicated at 83.

The outer end of crank shaft 80 has secured thereto a disc 84 having apin 85 mounted eccentrically thereon. One end of a link 86 is pivotallyattached to pin 85, the other end of said link being pivoted to theupper end of a lever 81 pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket 88extending forwardly from the front end of stoker I The lower end oflever 81 has pivotally attached thereto one end of a link 89, the otherend of which is pivoted on a pin 90 extending through apertures providedat the upper end of a bifurcated lever 9I. Lever 9| is secured to ashaft 92 mounted in bearings 93 and 94 provided at the upper ends of apair of brackets 95 and 95 respectively. One end of shaft 92 has securedthereto a clutch element 9'Iwhich is adapted to engage a complementaryclutch element 98 secured to one end of a shaft 99 journaled in bearingsI and IOI, provided in pedestal brackets I02 and I03, respectively.Secured to shaft 99 is a bifurcated lever I04, to the lower end of whichis pivotally attached a crosshead I05. Crosshead I is provided with anaperture centrally thereof which receives a rod I06, pivoted at I0'I tothe outer end of a second rod I00. The other end of rod I00 is securedto one end of a rack 60 which meshes with a segmental gear 68 secured toone end of the shaft 31 upon which the ash discharging device I3 issupported.

Rack 60 operates in a guideway provided at the The outer end of rodExtending between crosshead I05 and collar I09 are a series ofsubstantially U-shaped washers IIO. A second series of washers IIIextends between the upper end of a bracket 03.

a shaft I20.

other side of crosshead' I05 and the'enlarged portion II2 of'rod I06.These washers are provided to form abutments for crosshead I05, as itmoves in either direction, and consequently the extent of movement ofrack 60 and of ash discharge device I3 may be predetermined. Bysimplyremoving washers from either side of crosshead I05, the extent ofmovement is decreased, and conversely, by adding washers the extent ofmovement is increased, since it will be remembered that crosshead I05 isloosely mounted on rod I06. Clutch element 98 is provided'with anannular groove 3, which is adapted to receive a pair of inwardlyprojecting lugs 4' provided on the lower bifurcated end I I 5 of aclutch operating lever H6. The lower end of lever H6 is pivoted at II'!to pedestal bracket I02.

From the foregoing description it is'seen that when clutch elements 91and 98 are disengaged,

as shown in Fig. 10, no movement from disc 84, and the link and levermechanism associated therewith, is imparted to rack member 60 However,upon the engagement of clutch elements 9! and 98, a reciprocatory motionis imparted to rack member 60*, which in turn imparts an oscillatorymotion to ash discharging device I3 which in turn feeds the ashesthrough discharge opening M as previously described in connection withthe construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7. inclusive. 7

Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, it'will be observed that theouter end of shaft 31* extends through suitable bearings provided inbracket 63 and has secured to the free end thereof a clutch element IIBadapted to engage a complementary clutch element II9 slidably mounted onShaft I20 is journaled in-bearings I2I and I22, provided at the upperends of pedestal brackets I23 and I24 respectively. Secured to'shaft I20intermediate the. ends thereof is a worm wheel I25 which meshes with aworm gear I26, secured to a verticalv shaft I21 suitably journaled in abearing bracket I28 disposed adjacent bracketsl23 and I24. The upper endof F shaft I21 has secured thereto a hand wheel I29.

Clutch element I I9 has provided thereon an annular groove I30 forreceiving a pair of studs I 3| projecting inwardly from the bifurcatedend I32 of a clutch actuating lever I33. Lever I33 is pivotally mountedat the lower end thereof, as shown at I34, to the web I35 of bracketI23.

Hand wheel I29 and the associated gearing I25 and I26 are provided'tooperate the ash disr charging device l3 from the position shown in Fig.3 to the dumping position shown in Fig. 4.

To accomplish-this, clutch elements 91 and 98, as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 10, are disengaged by swinging lever II6 to theposition 0. shown in Fig. 10. Rack is now disconnected from the powermechanism 8|. Lever I33 is now swung to the left(Fig. 9) so as to moveclutch element '9 into engagement With C1utCh element' I I8. Now, uponturning hand wheel I29, shaft 31*, and consequently ash dischargingdevice I3 may be adjusted manually. Hand wheel'I29 is turned until ashdischarging device I3 assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, in whichposition the ashes normally supported thereon are permitted to avalanchethrough the opening I4.

From the foregoing description it is seen that a simplified, as well ashighly efficient ash'discharging device has'been provided, whichfunctions to feed the ashes from the furnace at various predeterminedrates, and also to dump the ashes whenever such action is desirable.

While the embodiments herein shown and described are admirably adaptedto fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that theinvention is not to be limited thereto, since it may be embodied inother forms, all coming within the scope of the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An ash discharging device adapted to be mounted adjacent one end of astoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for rocking movement fromash feeding to ash dumping positions, said member comprising asubstantially arcuate portion having projections thereon, a shaft forsupporting said member, a gear secured to one end of said shaft, a rackmeshing with said gear, a reciprocating fluid motor for actuating saidrack, means including a pressure reversing control mechanism forcontrolling the direction of movement of said motor, and adjustableabutment means adapted to limit the movement of said rack in eitherdirection, whereby the rocking movement of said shaft and member may bepredetermined, said abutment means being so disposed that upon theremoval thereof said shaft and member may be actuated to ash dumpingposition by said motor means, causing the ashes normally supported onsaid member to be discharged from the furnace.

2. An ash discharging device adapted to be mounted adjacent one end of astoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a plurality of axially aligned members, ashaft for supporting said members, said members being adapted forrocking movement from ash feeding to ash dumping positions, said memberscomprising a substantially arcuate portion having projections thereon, ashaft for supporting said members, a gear secured to one end of saidshaft, a rack meshing with said gear, a reciprocating fluid motor foractuating said rack, means including a pressure reversing controlmechanism for controlling the direction of movement of said motor, andadjustable abutment means adapted to limit the movement of said rack ineither direction, whereby the rocking movement of said shaft and membersmay be predetermined, said adjustable abutment means being so disposedthat upon the removal thereof said shaft and members may be actuated toash dumping position by said motor means, causing the ashes normallysupported on said members to be discharged from the furnace.

3. An ash discharging device adapted to be mounted adjacent one end of astoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for movement from ashfeeding to ash dumping positions, said member comprising a substantiallyarcuate portion having projections thereon, a shaft for supporting saidmember, a gear secured to one end of said shaft, a rack meshing withsaid gear, a guideway for said rack having slots provided therein nearthe opposite ends thereof, removable washers adapted for insertion insaid slots forming abutments for said rack to limit the movement thereofin either direction, a reciprocating fluid motor for actuating saidrack, and means including a pressure reversing control mechanism forcontrolling the direction of movement of said motor, and said motorbeing adapted to actuate said member to ash discharging position uponremoval of the said washers from one end of said guideway whereby theashes normally supported on said member are discharged from the furnace.

4. An ash discharging device adapted to be mounted adjacent one end of'a stoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for movement from ashfeeding to ash dumping positions, said member comprising a substantiallyarcuate portion having projections thereon, a shaft for supporting saidmember, a gear secured to one end of said shaft, a rack meshing withsaid gear, power means, a link and lever mechanism operativelyconnecting said rack to said power means, whereby a reciprocatorymovement is imparted to said rack, and clutch means adapted to connector disconnect said link and lever mechanism from said rack.

5. An ash discharging device adapted to be mounted adjacent one end of astoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for movement from ashfeeding to ash dumping positions, said member comprising a substantiallyarcuate portion having projections thereon, a shaft for supporting saidmember, a gear secured to one end of said shaft, a rack meshing withsaid gear, power means, a link and lever mechanism operativelyconnecting said rack to said power means, whereby a reciprocatorymovement is imparted to said rack, clutch means adapted to connect ordisconnect said link and lever mechanism from said rack, a second shaftin axial alignment with said first mentioned shaft, a gear secured tosaid second shaft, manually operable gearing meshing with said gear, andclutch means adapted to connect or disconnect said first and secondshafts, whereby said member may be actuated manually to ash dumpingposition.

6. An ash discharging device, adapted to be mounted adjacent one end ofa stoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for movement from ashfeeding to ash discharging position, said member comprising an ashsupporting portion, means for oscillating said member to progressivelyfeed the ashes through said passage, and means for actuating said memberto ash discharging position whereby the ashes normally supported therebyare discharged from the furnace.

'7. An ash discharging device, adapted tobe mounted adjacent one end ofa stoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a rockable member of segmental rollconstruction having a substantially arcuate fuel supporting portion,projections provided on said fuel supporting portion, and a relativelyfiat portion at the bottom of said member, means for rocking said memberto progressively feed the ashes through said passage, and means foractuating said member to bring said flat portion into a downwardly andrearwardly inclined position in contact with said ashes whereby the saidashes normally supported by said device are discharged from the furnace.

8. An ash discharging device, adapted to be mounted adjacent one end ofa stoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a plurality of axially aligned membersadapted for movement from ash feeding to ash discharging position, ashaft for supporting said members, each of said members comprising asubstantially arcuate ash supporting and feeding portion, means forrocking said shaft to progressively feed the ashes through said passage;and means for actuating said members to ash discharging position wherebythe ashes normally supported thereby are discharged from the furnace.

9. An ash discharging device, adapted to be mounted adjacent one end ofa stoker furnace for feeding the ashes receivedtherefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for rocking movement todifferent positions, said member being of segmental roll constructionand consisting of an arcuate fuel supporting portion having projectionsthereon for progressively feeding the ashes through said dischargepassage, a rockable shaft for supporting said member, operating meansfor rocking said shaft, and means for predetermining the extent ofrocking movement of said shaft.

10. An ash discharging device, adapted to be mounted adjacent one end ofa stoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, comprising a member adapted for rocking movement todifferent positions, said member being of segmental roll constructionand consisting of an arcuate fuel supporting portion having projectionsthereon for progressively feeding the ashes through said dischargepassage, a rockable shaft for supporting said member, operating meansfor rocking said shaft, said operating means comprising gearingoperatively connected to said shaft, power means operatively connectedto said gearing for rocking said shaft, and means for predetermining theextent of movement of said shaft in either direction.

11. In a furnace, the combination of a stoker, an ash discharging deviceprovided at one end of said stoker, a wall disposed adjacent said ashdischarging device, the bottom of said wall being spaced from said ashdischarging device to provide a passage through which the ashes fromsaid furnace may be discharged, said ash discharging device comprising arockable member having projections thereon, and abutment means providedon said wall above said ash discharging device and against which theashes and clinkers formed in the furnace are crushed by the saidprojections, whereby said olinkers are broken up before dischargingthrough said passage.

12. In a furnace, a stoker, an ash discharging device disposed to therear of said stoker, a wall disposed adjacent said ash dischargingdevice, the bottom of said wall being spaced from said ash dischargingdevice to form a passage through which the ashes from the furnace may bedischarged, said ash discharging device comprising a rockable memberhaving projections thereon, operating means for said device foractuating the same, means for predetermining the extent of movement ofsaid ash discharging device, and means for actuating said device to ashdumping position whereby the ashes normally supported thereon aredischarged from the furnace.

13. In a furnace, a stoker, an ash discharging device disposed at therear of said stoker, a wall disposed adjacent said ash dischargingdevice. the lower end of said wall being spaced from said ashdischarging device to provide a passage through which the ashes may bedischarged, said ash discharging device comprising a series of axiallyaligned members adapted for adjustment from a feeding position to an ashdumping position, said members comprising an upper, substantiallyarcuate portion having a series of projections thereon, a shaft forsupporting said members, gearing operatively connected to said shaft, afluid motor for actuating said gearing to rock said shaft, meansforpredetermining the extent of rocking movement of said shaft, and saidfluid motor being adapted to actuate said members to dumping positionwhereby the ashes normally supported thereby are discharged from thefurnace.

14. In a furnace, a stoker, an ash discharging device disposed at therear of said stoker, a wall disposed adjacent said ash dischargingdevice, the lower end of said wall being spaced from said ashdischarging device to provide a passage through which the ashes may bedischarged, said ash discharging device comprising a series of axiallyaligned members adapted for movement from a feeding position to an ashdumping position, said members comprising an upper, substantiallyarcuate portion having a series of projections thereon, a shaft forsupporting said members, gearing operatively connected to said shaft, anoperating mechanism, a link and lever mechanism operatively connectingsaid operating mechanism to said gearing to efiect a rocking movement ofsaid shaft, clutch means for connecting or disconnecting said operatingmechanism at said gearing, a second shaft normally disconnected fromsaid first mentioned shaft, manually operable gearing associated withsaid second shaft, and a clutch means for connecting or disconnectingsaid first and second shafts whereby when said shafts are connected saidash discharging device may be actuated to dumping position by saidmanually operable gearing.

15. A rockable ashfeeding device of segmental roll construction adaptedto be mounted adjacent one end of a stoker furnace for feeding the ashesreceived therefrom through a discharge passage, said ash feeding devicecomprising a substantially arcuate material supporting and feedingportion, a pair of end walls secured to said material supportingportion, a third wall secured to one edge of said material supportingportion, projections provided on said material supporting portion, andsupporting means for said feeding device secured to and extendingbetween one edge of said material supporting portion and the lower edgeof said third wall.

16. An ash feeding device adapted to be mounted adjacent one end of astoker furnace for feeding the ashes received therefrom through adischarge passage, said device comprising a rockable member having asubstantially arcuate material supporting portion, a pair of end wallssecured to said material supporting portion, a

third wall secured to one edge of said material supporting portion,projections provided on said material supporting portion for feeding theashes, supporting means for said member secured to and extending betweenone edge of said material supporting portion and said third wall, and aplate adapted for attachment to said supporting means and extending overthe length of said member and between one edge of said supportingportion and said third wall.

CHARLES L. MYERS.

